Useful information for families
Help with childcare costs
Are you getting all the support you’re entitled to?
Before your child turns 3 and receives the 30 hours childcare, there are other ways to get support with the costs of childcare.
If you (and your partner, if you have one) are working or on paid leave, you are eligible for tax-free childcare. You can get up to £500 every 3 months to help with the cost of childcare. Click the link above for more info.
If you already receive tax credits or Universal Credit, you may be eligible for more financial support.
You can use the calculators in this link:
Help with the cost of living
Visit the Too Good to Go website to find out how you can buy food from cafes, restaurants and shops at a reduced price, when it hasn't sold in time.
On the Olio website you can find people giving away free food to their community.
East Bristol Food Bank has donations available for those eligible
To help support people most impacted, including those who have not faced financial challenge before, the council has a cost of living support webpage
local support networks
Easton Community Centre, just around the corner, is a designated Welcome Space
Wellspring Settlement in Barton Hill is a designated space for families and the local community to use. This includes a range of family services.
Bristol Energy Network (of which ECCC are a member) have updates on support available for energy efficiency and sustainable energy
Cheap and free winter activities
Playdough is a fun sensory and creative activity you can easily make with things around the house. We like this recipe!
Nature Art. Whether it’s in autumn with different leaves and pinecones, or in winter with chunks of ice, this can be a great way to make shapes and pictures with natural materials while having conversations about what is happening as the seasons change.
Make bubbles! Any large container works with a mix of 50/50 water and washing up liquid, and a spoon of sugar gently stirred in. A pipe cleaner, straw, or funnel can work as a shape to blow through!
Make a den. The Woodland Trust has tips on how to make one outside, or a sofa fort can be a fun indoor alternative! This helps children feel a sense of identity from having their own space.